PAMPORE: Illegal sand miners have turned compound of government primary school at Bujibagh village of Pampore area into dumping site for sand, which isaffecting functioning of institution.
School staff and students told Kashmir Reader that sand diggers have been dumping sand illegally extracted from Jheluminto premises of the institution.
“Sand in the compound has blocked path to the school,” a teacher said, adding the sand has rendered their school- situated at one bank of Jhelum- invisible.
“Every day we have to cross through the sand mounds,” a student said, adding that in the process their neat uniform and polished shoe become dirty.
They said that noise from unloading and dumping of sand cause interference in their studies.
“They dump sand even during school time when our classes are on,” students said.
The teachers told Kashmir Reader that they raised this issue with zonal education officer Pampore and pleaded before him for raising a wall around the school, but till date they have heard nothing from other side.
They requested authorities for raising a wall around the school so that the compound can be protected from sand dumping.
“Our kids have no ground for playing.We could use the compound as playground if a wall is erected around it,” teachers said.
When Kashmir Reader contacted Tehsildar Pampore, Ishtiyaq Mohi-ud-Din, he assured action will be taken against illegal sand diggers.
“We have already issued orders for seizing the sand and it will be auctioned very soon,” he said, adding that he will also ask concerned authorities for raising a wall around the school.

BILAL HABIB